The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-06
IIIL n y " oF AFEKS AND TIL
Boston Post.
MR.. BLAINE IN ST. LOUIS.
enthusiastically Greeted on 'change
The difference Between Maine and
Missouri Forty Years Ago.


Missouri Forty Years Ago.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat, April /.
About O'Clock yesterday Mr.. Blaine made
his appearance in the hall of the Lindell, on
his way to his private dining room, room 10
having been set aside for that purpose. The
breakfast was entirely private, none but
members of the Blaine party being present.
Shortly after breakfast Mr.. r. @. Kerens
called, and was received by Mr.. Blaine in
his private room. Within short time cards
by the hundred began to arrive at the door,
but only favored few were admitted. Mr..
Kerens left about II o'clock, and went to the
offices Of the ST. Louis, Arkansas and Taxas
Railroad, and Mr.. Elkins soon followed him.
Mr.. Kerens returned about noon, and await
ed, with Mr.. Blaine, the arrival of the Recep-
ton Committee from the Merchants En-
change.
AT 1915 o'clock the committee waited upon
Mr.. Blaine at the Lindell, and conducted
him to the reading room of the Exchange
where President Galennie and the officers
were awaiting their distinguished guest. He
spent some fifteen minutes in conversation
with the gentlemen present, and was then
conducted to the hall, which since noon had
been filled to overlooking by those desiring
to see and hear the great statesman Such
throng had never before assembled on
Change, and all eyes were eagerly fixed
upon the door through which the guest was
to make his entrance into the hall. As his
tall form, crowned with white hair, was
seen, shout burst. from the eager con-
course which could have been heard for
many squares, and cheer after cheer and
cries of Blaine! Blaine p rent the air. Bow
ing to the right and left, Mr.. Blaine ascend
ed the rostrum preceded by President Ga
Jennie, who. in a few well-chosen remarks.
referring to the needlessness of recounting
Mr. Blaine's fame and services to an Ameri-
can audience, introduced the distinguished
speaker.
MIR. BLAINE's ADDRESS.
Mr.. President, and Gentlemen of the Cham
Der of Commerce; can well say that il is
equally a surprise and a qualification to N.Y.
self to be here at this moment. / arrived in
your beautiful city lastevening, and may say
that was not only honored with an invita-
ton, but served with notice to be here at
TINS time, and having long been under good
dlsclpline, responded. But as Maine man
l am sure feel at home in Missouri, for old
Col. Benton had happy remark which he
always addressed to Maine men-that Maine
came into the Union on the back of Missouri
or Missouri came into the Union on the back
OF Maine, he didn't know which; but they
both got in together. And so we have had
strong bond of sympathy because of our twin
slrth as States in the Federal Union.
r;Eas In this city long before the vast ma
yorltyaf the gentlemen whom have the hon
t =, W ausgess. i saw St Louis for the first
sii he,' Vgry Afarly forty years ago. / was but
Doy. put liaund that in travelling a bow
mas larger eyesthan man of mature years ::
anu az tnat Time n the course of few DAYS
aal IAN knew every street and every alley,
anu pretty much every steamboat that land
v ,vh az yonr WnarI. But though have some
W., WAY =, Ie sl memory may say l am now
lost In the maze of this magnificent emno-
rum, and the little city or 10000 which /
tnen found on the banks of the Mississippi
Is aitogetner unrecognizable today. l there
lore, although | have in the interval been
here some three or four times, may claim nv
self to be stranger to the great and magnif-
icent proportions which your city has Since
assumed. i do not know myself, and could
streets this morning, the old land marks
which were once familiar to me.
:, Your growth. gentlemen, is the growth Of
the republic. lCheers.] In peculiar sense
your growth Is the growth of the transmits
slsslppl republic; a republic which is far
one than the Federal Union when Missouri
became member of it. And it is in that
great region hitherto and as yet scarcely de-
selopea-lt IS In that great region that this
CITY is 10 nave its imperial growth and its
enormous development. With %. 600 miles of
| river by which you are connected with steam
| navigation, with 10000 miles of railway in
the old Territory of Louisiana, which did not
nave one solitary mile when / was first in
this city-with all these vast agencies of
transportation, what may not be expected of
this place? You have that which as Rem
resentatiye in Congress, l was long since
made familiar with--you have that Jealous,
that watchful care of your access to the sea
for which the original Territory of Louisiana
was purchased under the administration of
Jefferson.
1t was to give this Western country access
to the open oceans of the world that the Mis-
Sisslppl was desired as an American river:
and the people of st. Louis do well and the
people of st. Louis do wisely to jealousy
guard that great outlet to the waters of the
world. But, gentlemen, with all the con-
ordinations which feel it in my heart to
extend to you, with all the compliments
Wnlch your immense growth calls from every
Up, feel that have one reproach against
st. Louis: feel that have one reproach
against this great Mississippi depart
IInent. , little over eighty years ago it be-
longed 10 foreign power, and by the mar
rowest possible chance it was kept from fall
ing into the hands of England; but the
watchful care, the great nerve and courage.
the statesmanllke grasp of Thomas Jeffer-
son, standing between the policy of France
and the aggressive energy of Great Britain.
plucked the whole territory of Louisiana
from the ambition Of both, and made it into
an American State; and that vast domain
LOT winch Jefferson gave $15,000,0 900 is now
represented in seven great and prosperous
States and three large Territories, which in
the course Of time will add four or five States
possibly to the American Union.
xua n
| sive, acquired by peaceful methods. Never
was SO great a conquest made by war that a
conquerlng power was able to hold. Then
let me say, that my reproach to st. Louis
my reproach to every foot and every inhabi-
tant OF the territory of Louisiana, is that on
its entire surface, which represents third
part of the United States, there is not
statue raised to the honor of Thomas Jeffer-
son.
st. Louis is the capital, the emporium. and
will be for all time, of that which was the
Territory of Louisiana. / will be forgiven,
am sure, for reminding you that gratitude
to the great man who has gone, gratitude to
that great man who, in the annals of Ameri-
can greatness, should stand next to Wash
ington; will be forgiven, am sure, when
| say that the duty of ST. Louis and the duty
Of the merchants of st. Louis is to erect
within your beautiful city Statue Of him,
who more than any other man, by scratch
of pen created an empire.
Gentlemen, / thank you very sincerely for
your cordial reception. Mr.. President, / am
profoundly indebted for your words of cour-
tesy. l am here simply as your guest, and 1
am impressed so byit that | shall not commit
the 0ffense of trespassing upon your pa
thence, but with my cordial wishes for your
increased and ever increasing prosperity,
bid you good morning.
Upon his return from the Merchants Ex-
change Mr.. Blaine retired to his room, where
he remained some time. Shortly before 8
O'Clock dinner was announced, and the
Blaine party proceeded to the dining
where they were joined by Mr.. Kerens, Gen.
Grier, and Gov. Stannard, who dined with
them. The party broke up at o'clock, Mr..
Blaine proceeding to his room, where he re-
ceiyed few gentlemen during the afternoon.
At 745 carriages drew up in front of the Ia